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Health & Fitness

Why don't you support your local restaurants?

What would it take for you to step outside your comfort zone and dine in Bed-Stuy?

The other day I was sitting in Tin City staring out the window when a late twentysomething, maybe early thirtysomething man walked by.  As he slowed down to read the chalkboard, I yelled, “You know you want some ice cream!”

He laughed, and stepped into the shop. He replied that he walked past the store often, but had yet to come in. I encouraged him to sample one of the ice cream flavors, and then I asked him what his thoughts were on the neighborhood’s changes.

A lifelong resident of Bed-Stuy, he was happy with some of the changes, but admitted he didn’t participate in any of them, like patronizing restaurants like Peaches, from which he lived directly across the street.

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The young man behind Tin City’s counter that day, Taylor, admonished him by calling his attitude a fail, and shared with him that he could “take a shorty out to eat and not kill yourself” at Peaches.

The two of us then went on to tell him about other neighborhood spots, like Saraghina across the street, Hothouse on Tompkins, Bed-Stuy Papaya, Crave, and so on.  The young man owns a grocery on Tompkins and Macon with his brother, but never walked down to Hothouse, and I’m pretty sure he’s never eaten at Halsey St. Grill.

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When I asked him why he didn’t eat in the neighborhood, he hesitated and didn’t give a reason. I stood up, and told him I was walking him over to Saraghina. As we walked over, he mentioned something to the effect of a place like Saraghina being a place for white people, and I reminded him of whose neighborhood he was in.

I hear that a lot from Bed-Stuy residents I talk to about their food buying decisions and it disturbs me. I find it curious that Bed-Stuy has all of these Chinese food takeout spots, grocery chains owned by Dominicans and Jews, Dunkin’ Donuts, Kennedy Fried Chicken, and Subway chains owned by Indians and Pakistanis, and countless bodegas owned by Middle Easterners that they have no problem walking into and spending their money with, but find it difficult to patronize a place like Saraghina or Peaches, whose owners actually live in the neighborhood (or very close by in Crown Heights) and have a vested interest in keeping some of that money circulating in the neighborhood (hiring local staff, opening additional businesses).

But anyway, as we walk into Saraghina, I greet Marcus (I make it a point to ask servers’ names at businesses I frequent) and watches as the young man’s eyes light up as he looks around. He can’t believe the old garage has been converted into such a nice space, and asks if he can keep the menu. He feels this is a place he can come back to.

Why don’t you support the restaurants and coffee shops in the neighborhood? It is budget, intimidation, resistance to the new people moving into the neighborhood?

I have my favorite places to eat out at (Hothouse), places I go to because the coffee and sandwiches are good but shrug at the service (Saraghina), and places I don’t visit often because the food and service is so hit or miss (Peaches), but it doesn’t mean I won’t patronize them regularly or tell someone not too (OK, stay out of Chinese takeout places in otherwise abandoned buildings. Seriously.)

If we want quality amenities in Bed-Stuy, especially dining options, we have to keep supporting what is here so that new prospects feel confident that they can open businesses here. If you’ve got a problem with the food or service, let the owners know so they can do better. And they will listen if enough people make a point to voice their concerns about their experience.

I am looking forward to the day where I don’t have to leave Bed-Stuy for any reason, unless I’m going on vacation.

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